An Unwanted Second Chance (JB Tirado) novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63

He had only taken a step when she grabbed his good wrist.

“Is everything ok?” she whispered.

Kent looked at her, trying to tamp down his anger. “I was just discussing my frustration with my beta’s

choices.”

She squeezed his wrist. “You need to calm down before you talk to the commander.”

He swallowed hard, suddenly registering the worry on her face. He gently pulled his wrist from her grasp and

moved his hand to the back of her neck, stepping closer as he angled her head back so he could press her

forehead against hers. He took a deep breath, inhaling her sweet vanilla scent, allowing it to soothe the

anger that simmered in him.

She reached up, running her hands up his chest, leaving a trail of sparks in their wake until she rested her

hands on his shoulder.

“Better?” she whispered.

He nodded against her forehead. “Yes. Thank you.” He pressed a soft kiss into her lips before he stepped

back. “Does he know about us?”

She nodded, taking his good hand and leading him towards her room. “He has questions about Evan that I

can’t answer.”

Kent pulled one of the armchairs in her room over to the desk where the computer was so he could sit beside her. Riley ran through a quick introduction as the commander nodded.

“I understand you’ve brought some problems on your pack,” the man, Whey, said calmly.

Kent sighed. “It seems I have.” Riley grabbed his hand under the desk, squeezing his fingers in a silent plea for him to stay calm. He squeezed her hand back in reassurance.

“I asked Riley if anyone had ever been approached by this woman or anyone else, asking about this child.”

Kent shook his head. “No, sir. We didn’t even realize that the attacks were connected to the pup until two

months ago. I assumed that I killed the boy’s parents before I found him. I never had a reason to believe that

he had a living parent out there.”

Whey nodded. “Which makes sense. What I don’t understand is why it took this woman so long to try to recoup her child. If she knew that you had the child, why has she not taken a legal route to get her child

back? The Council still recognizes the rogues as having rights. If she knew her child was there, she could

have requested Council assistance in getting her son. Do you grant audiences to rogues if they request

them?”

Kent nodded. “Of course. Occasionally we get rogues requesting a place in our pack. I’m willing to talk to

them to determine if they would be a good fit for our pack. If someone had approached us claiming to be that boy’s mother, I would have spoken to her. I would have been willing to work something out with her about returning the child, though I would have had questions about why he was found in such poor condition. He was injured and malnourished when I found him.”

“I’m aware,” Whey said calmly. “Riley told me that.” He tapped his chin for a moment. “What does the child

< Chapter 63

look like?”

“He has dark brown hair and brown eyes,” Kent said. “He’s taller than most kids his age and very thin.”

40 Points

Whey pursed his lips, staring away from the camera for a moment. “Did either of you ever hear about how the luna of the Green River pack was killed?”

Kent and Riley shook the ?

heads in unison.

“Well,” Whey said, looking back at the camera, “about five years ago, the luna of the Green River pack was murdered. The story goes that the alpha of Green River met his first mate when he was young, but she died tragically. The alpha was nearly destroyed by her death but eventually recovered. Years later, he decided to take a chosen mate. He was set to take this woman as his mate, but prior to this an alpha from a neighboring pack came for an alliance meeting. He brought his daughter with him and the alpha of Green River discovered his second chance mate. The woman who was to be his chosen mate became upset and angry, lashing out. The alpha felt he had no choice but to banish this woman as he feared she would hurt his

new mate.

“Eventually his new luna became pregnant and had a baby boy. When the boy was a few months old, this deranged woman came back to the pack. She snuck in, killing the luna and stealing the child. The alpha couldn’t handle losing a second mate and died that same night as well. The beta took over as alpha and he launched a large–scale search for the child, but the boy was never found.”

“You think the child we have is this missing boy?” Kent asked, frowning.

“I think it is a possibility.” Whey rubbed his forehead for a moment. “You see, this boy is special. The alpha and his luna were both from long lines of original alphas, making this child a true alpha. This is exceptionally rare, but what this means is that the blood from both sides of his family is alpha blood. This child was destined to be stronger and more powerful than an average wolf. In the wrong hands, this child could be used

as a powerful weapon.”

Kent felt his face pale as he considered what the commander was saying.

“What do you know of the woman who is behind these attacks?” Whey asked.

“Only what the rogue we interrogated has told us and what my scouts have reported back,” Kent answered.” They say she is deranged and vicious.”

Whey frowned. “We have to attempt making contact with this woman. Offer her the opportunity to have a DNA test performed. If she is in fact the child’s mother, she deserves the chance to recoup her child. If she isn’t, we need to determine if he is the missing pup from Green River.”

“What if he’s neither?” Riley asked quietly. “What if she is mistaken about the child and he is truly an orphan?”

Whey shrugged. “That seems unlikely but I guess we would cross that bridge only when we needed to.” He leaned forward again. “Alpha, send one of your warriors out to request a meeting with the woman. Have the warrior explain that we want to discuss how to return her child to her in the most peaceful way. Once she

comes into your territory, request she submit to a DNA test.”

Kent nodded. “I’ll send someone out right away.”

“Good. Take a DNA sample from the child as well. Have it sent to the Council Hospital right away. I’ll contact Green River to ask if there are any living relatives of the alpha so we have someone to compare it against.”

“I’ll have that done as well,” Kent said quietly. “But I do have a question, sir.”

2/3

< Chapter 63

“What is it?”

“What repercussions will my pack face over what I’ve done?”

+8 Points

Whey sighed. “That’s a good question. I’ll have to present everything to the Council Elders in ten days time, so the more information I have before then the better. They will ultimately decide your consequences. If he is the rogue’s child and you make a good faith effort to return the child, I think consequences will be mild. If the child is the missing pup from Green River, the Elders will wait to see what the current alpha of Green River wants. He may request harsh action or he may not. He is a reasonable man, but he has searched for this child for many years.”

Kent nodded. “Ok, then I guess we just wait to see.”

“Indeed,” Whey said, “but I will warn you not to keep any more information hidden from the Council. That will not help your situation.” Whey cleared his throat. “Now, Alpha, I would like a word with my advisor in private. I appreciate your time.”

Kent squeezed Riley’s hand as he nodded at the commander. “Please let me know if there is any more information you need.” He stood up, leaving without a backwards glance at Riley.

Kent had forgotten that Patrick and Max were still waiting for him until he walked back into his office. He froze, looking at Max, at his best friend who was still standing by the window.

How was he supposed to tell Max that no matter how this played out, there was a good chance he would be losing his son?

It didn’t matter how angry he was about what Max had said to Riley, Kent didn’t want to see Max’s family torn

apart.

He suddenly didn’t know how he had gotten here, in this situation. His pack was being attacked, his warriors were being killed and he was no closer to stopping it. Now everything he had done to protect Max and Penny had been for nothing. The council would still likely take their son. His pack could face harsh sanctions for his poor choices. And his mate was still undecided on whether she was going to reject him or not.

He didn’t realize his legs had buckled until his knees hit the floor. Patrick and Max were across the room and beside him in an instant, asking him what had happened, but it sounded like they were talking to him from

underwater.

His eyes stung with tears as he looked at Max. “I’m sorry,” he gasped. “I’ve ruined everything.”

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